Refrigerator door lock



March 22, 1960 H. D. SQUIRE REFRIGERATOR DOOR LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed 001.- 31, 1956 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. Hub, D. 57w" BY FIG. a

March 22, 1960 H. D. SQUIRE 2,929,650 REFRIGERATOR DOOR LOCK Filed Oct.31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Her er/ 5f F76. 6' By niteri REFRIGERATOR DOOR LOCK Herbert D. Squire,Galesburg, lll., assignor to Midwest This invention relates'to'improvements in door latches and more particularly to an improvedlatch for holding the door closed in householdrefrigerators.

As is well known to those versed in the art household refrigerators areprovided with various kinds of operating handles for causing the releaseof the latch mechanism which holds the door closed. The type of handlesvaries with different models, some of them being pull type for causingthe release and others being of the handle and push button type. Usuallythe latch mechanism must be selected to suit the particular type ofhandle or vice versa With the result that changes in handle typesoftencause a considerable amount of door redesign which is relativelyexpensive.

By the present invention it is possible to provide a single latchmechanism which may be used witha variety of handles and/or push buttonreleases thus reducing the number of parts that need to be stocked formanufacture or replacement.

Basically, the invention contemplates a bolt mechanism with which isassociated a latch and release mechanism wherein the latch and releasemechanism may be assembled in difierent relations to the bolt mechanismto provide the versatility mentioned.

Other advantages of the invention and the invention itself will becomemore apparent from the'following'description of an embodiment thereof,which description is illustrated by the accompanying drawings and formsa part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a horizontal section through a fragment of a door and cabinetshowing a plan view of the lock and its manner of cooperation with thedoor andcabin'et;

Fig. 2 is a view taken from the'line 2"-2 of Fig; 1

Fig. 3 is a view taken from the line 3'3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an'enlarged horizontal section through the lock;

Pig. 5 is a plan view of a release cam; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4, show ing a difierentadjustment'for the release means.

As illustrated in the drawings, there is provided a main housing whichcomprises spaced parallel sidewalls '10 connected together by a bridgingend wall 11. Each side wall is provided with a laterally extendingflange.12 having openings 13 for the reception of screws for holding thesame to a suitable frame on the door which carries the same.

Pivotally supported between theside Walls of the main housing on a pivotpin 15 is a bolthousing, Figs. 2 and 4, which comprises parallel sidewalls 16 held in spaced relation to each other by a bridging end wall17. Opposite to the end wall 17, tongues 18 are struck from the sidewalls and bent inwardly normal to the side walls the extremities beingprovided with spring seating "lugs 19 that project toward the end wall17. Beyond those portions the sides of the housing are provided withextending arms 20 the end of each of which carries an inwardly extendinglug 22. The lugs project toward each other in a vertical plane toprovide pawl engaging sur Patent 2.. faces that are engaged by a pawlwhich may be released to allow the bolt housing to pivot about the pin15. Nor mally the bolt housing is held in the position shown wherein theend wall l7 lies fiat against the end wall ll of the main housing by'aspring50 which is coiled about the pin 15 and has anarm SIengaging-Withthe wall 11 and an arm 52 engaging with a bolt pivot pin28.

I The bolt is comprised ofa-pair-of spaced parallel members 25 connectedtogether by a b'ridging'portion 26. The" lower portion of the bolt,a's'viewed in'the figures, provides" a pair of spaced parallelarins'27'which' are journalled; on a pivot pin 28 carried"at'the'lowerrightha'nd'side o'fi the bolt housing. The upperfendof the bolt' isprovided with a pair of spaced parallel-curved extensions'30 whichcarrya keeperengaging' roller 31. The'bolt is heldwith: the wall 26 againstthe inner side'of thebolt hou'sing'wall 17 by a heavy helical spring'32;one'end of which is seated" on the arms-18 of'thefbolthousingand heldinpositioii by the lugs 19 while the other end of the'spring is seatedon a boss 33 formedby'displacernentof the wall 26. Thus the bolt andbolt housing areheld in a'predete'rmined fixed position but the bolt maypivoton the pin 28 relative to" the bolt housing againstthe-heavypressure of 'the spring" 32; I It should be pointed'out that normallythe bolthous ing' is locked againstpivo'ting in the main housing andthat. the pivot point 15 f'o'r'the 'bolt housing is'inwardly of rightside (Fig. 4) of-the main housingand spaced from the pivot'point' 28fonthe'bolt. The pivot point 28for the bolt is'very close'toa'lineruriiiing through the axis o'f-the bolt roller 31 and normal tothe holdingjsurface' of the keeper (see Fig: 1). Hence, when the housingis'locked', the roller pressure against the keeper-isnorinal to itshOId-f ing surface and therefore the'door is'held'securely closed; Whenthe bolt housing is" released" the pressure of the spring 32 is suchthat the bolt and the bolt housing'rnay be considered as one'elernentand up'on' release of thehousing it, along with the bolt, may pivotaboutthe'pivot 15" which is to one side of a line through the rollerandthe keeper'surface. Thejpressure between the roller and'the keepernow allows the' h'ousingl'and boltto pivot and the roller rolls off ofthekeepefsurfacebe'corningdisengaged therefrornl V When thedoorisrrjiov'ed to'aclosed' position, however, the roller on the bolten'ga'ges'with the slanting surface on the keeperandtheheavy spring iscompressed allowing the bolt to move relative to the bolt housing. Itrolls up" the cam surface and eventually is forced over intoengagementwith theke'epe'r surface by thespring 32.

The bolt housing'is normally held against pivotingby" a pawl whichcomprises a pair of side walls 40 the lower endsof which are providedwith enlarged circular portions 41 that are pivoted 'ona'pin 42 securedin and bridging the side walls 10 of the main housing: The two sidewallsof the pawl are bridged'bya wall 43 the upper end of which extendsbeyond the sidewalls 43 at 44 and is provided with a T extension 45beyond the confines of'themain housing. At thelower' end the wall 43follows the" contour of the sidewalls and then extends outwardlytangentthereto to provide an arm 46 which extends be yond the confinesof the main housing. I

Pressure'may be applied to the T 45' or to the arm 46 to" tilt' the pawlagainstthe pressure of a spring 56 which is'coiled about the'pin' 42 andhas one' arm 57 engaged in an aperture 58 inthe' side wall oftheho'usingland the other end 59 engaged with the arm 46 to hold thepawl" spring'pressed counterclockwise as viewed inFig. 4.

At their'upper ends, the side walls of the pawl are provided with steps60 which underlie the pawl engaging surfaces 22 and hold the bolthousingaga'inst'pivoe ing. When this pawl is released, and the doorpulledoutward, of'pressed' oiitwarc'i by springmeans, thebott keeper aspreviously described.

As previously stated, the arm 46 may be moved by anysuitablemeans suchas a push button, not shown, or.

a lever as shown in Fig. l, or the arm 45 may be moved by suitable meansto allow the pawl to be released. In addition, the pawl may be reversedand the pin 42 seated in the holes 58. When this is done, the arm 46extendsbetween the walls of the main housing and is accessible foroperation since the walls between the flanges 12 are open This enables awider variety of locations for push button releases to be obtained andalso allows the end 45 to be operated in the opposite direction.

Another form of release for the pawl which further increases itsversatility includes apawl release cam 70 which isa flat elongatednarrow plate that is slidably journaled in elongated openings 71 in theside walls of the housing. The plate is provided with spaced notches 72the conformation of which defines cam surfaces 73 and stops 74. The edgeof the plate at the bottom of the notches 72, when the plate is inposition, engages with the edges of the opening in which the releaseslides. When the pawl release is slidrin the openings 71, the camsurfaces 73, riding on the edges causes the pawl release to move towardthe pawl and engage with the upper edge surfaces 40a of the pawl to rockthe pawl clockwise.

The pawl release is normally held in a position such that the stops 74are engaged with one or both of the side walls of the housing, at whichtime it is-in a positionwhere the pawl is in locking engagement with thebolt hQusin'g by a spring 80, Fig. 2, which has an offset end 81 engagedin a transversely extending opening 82 in the, pawl release, the mainbody of the spring extending backward alongside the housing and having abent end portion engaged in, a seat 83 formed by striking a portionoutwardly ,from the end wall '11. The pawl release is provided withopenings 84 and 85 in each end through which a rod 86 may be connectedfor sliding the release in the housing. Thus the pawl release may bepushed or pul1ed to operate it. The release may also be reversed end forend, in which event the spring would be attached from the other sidethus allowing a greater variety of connections to the door handle to bemade.

, It is to be understood that, while there has been described in detailherein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings a particularpreferred embodiment of this invention, various modifications, omissionsand refinements which depart from the disclosed embodiment may beadoptedtwithout departing 'from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

4 I claim: a 7 I, 1. In a latch mechanism adapted to engage a keeper,said latch mechanism having a housing adapted to be mounted on asupport, a latch bolt carriage pivotally mounted on said housing andpivotable with respect thereto between a latching position and areleased position, a latch bolt pivotally mounted on'said carriage andpivotable with respect thereto'about an axis parallel to and laterallydisplaced from 'the'pivotal axis of said bolt carriage, and a main latchspring resiliently urging said latch .bolt in a keeper engagingdirection with-respect to said carriage; means for releasablymaintaining said bolt carriage in said latching position comprising amember pivotally mounted on said housing and pivotable with. respectthereto between a carriage restraining position and avcarria gereleasing position on hearing means substantially removed from thepivotal axis of said bolt car-v thereto in different directions anddifierent locations to move said member from said carriage restrainingposition to said carriage releasing position.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein the pivotal axis ofsaid member is parallel to and substantially displaced from the pivotalaxis of said bolt carriage.

3. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said housing includesgenerally parallel walls defining two pairs of openings, and a pin isprovided for reception by either. of said pairs of openings, said pinserving as a pivot for said member, whereby said member may be alternatively oriented on said housing and each of said arms may be actedupon by a force of alternative character to move said member from saidcarriage restrain ing position to said carriage releasing position.

4. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein spring means areprovided urging said bolt carriageto- Ward said latching position. I

5. The combination as specified in claim 1, wherein spring means areprovided urging said member toward said carriage restraining position. t

6. In combination with a latch housing, a latch bolt carriage pivotallymounted on said housing and pivotable. with respect thereto between alatching position and a released position, a latch bolt pivotallymounted on said carriage and pivotable with respect thereto about anaxis parallel to and laterally displaced from the pivotal axis of saidbolt carriage, and a main latch spring resiliently urging said latchbolt in a keeper engaging direction with respect to said carriage; meansfor releasably maintaining said bolt carriage insaid latching position.comprisinga generally L-shaped member. pivotally mounted on said.housing and pivotable with respect thereto between a carriagerestraining position and a carriage releasing position on bearing meansadjacent the bend of said L-s haped member and substantially. removedfrom the pivotal axis of said boltrcarriage, one armof said L-shapedmember being engageable with said bolt carriage when said L-shapedmember .is in said carriage restraining position to restrain saidcarriage against movement from said latching position to said releasingposition, the two arms of said L-shaped member being accessible fromwithout said housing'for application of forces thereto differentdirections and diflFerent locations to move said L-shaped member fromsaid carriage restraining position to said carriage releasing position.p

V 7. In combination with alatch housing, a latch bolt carriagepivotallymounted on said housing andpivotable with respect thereto between alatching position. and a releasedposition, a latch bolt pivotallymounted on said carriage and pivotable with respect thereto about anaxis parallel to and laterally displaced from the pivotal axis of saidbolt carriage, and a main latch spring resiliently urging said latchbolt in a keeper engaging direction with respect to said carriage; meansfor releasably maintaining said bolt carriage in said latching positioncomprising a riage, said member being engageable with saidboltcartending generallyf'radially of and angularly displaced about thepivotal axis thereof, said arms being accessi. ale-#99 tithes an-Pas ess a r liset w Q to -a member pivotally mounted on said housing andpivotable with respect thereto between a carriage restraining positionanda carriage releasing position on'bearing means substantially removedfrom the pivotal axis of said bolt carriage, said member beingengageable with said bolt carriage when saidmember is in said carriagerestraining position to'restrain said carriage against movement fromsaid latchingposition to said releasing position, said member includinga plurality of arms extending generally radially of and vangularlydisplaced about the pivotal axis thereof, .said arms being accessiblefrom without said housingforlapplication of forces thereto in difierentdirections'and different locations to move said member from saidcarriage restraining position to saidcarriage releasing position, andrelease means for moving said member from said carriage restrainingposition to said carriage releasing sa d release means, including a camstrip slidably mounted within a pair of slots provided in said housingin position to engage said member, said strip having cam means on oneedge thereof whereby longitudinal movement of said cam strip in onedirection causes movement of said member from said carriage restrainingposition to said carriage releasing position, said cam strip beingreversible end-to-end within said slots whereby longitudinal movementthereof in the direction opposite said one direction may effect carriagereleasing movement of said member.

8. In combination with a latch housing, a latch bolt carriage pivotallymounted on said housing and pivotable with respect thereto between alatching position and a. released position, a latch bolt pivotallymounted on said carriage and pivotable with respect thereto about anaxis parallel to and laterally displaced from the pivotal axis of saidbolt carriage, and a main latch spring resiliently urging said latchbolt in a keeper engaging direction with respect to said carriage; meansfor releasably maintaining said bolt carriage in said latching positioncomprising a member pivotally mounted on said housing and pivotable withrespect thereto between a carriage restraining position and a carriagereleasing position on bearing means substantially removed from thepivotal axis of said bolt carriage, said member being engageable withsaid bolt carriage when said member is in said carriage restrainingposition to restrain said carriage against movement from said latchingposition to said releasing position, said member including a pluralityof arms extending generally radially of and angularly displaced aboutthe pivotal axis thereof, said arms being accessible from without saidhousing for application of forces thereto in different directions anddifierent locations to move said member from said carriage restrainingposition to said carriage releasing position, said housing havinggenerally parallel walls defining two pairs of openings, said bearingmeans including a pin for reception by either of said pairs of openings,whereby said member may be alternatively oriented on said housing andeach of said arms may be acted upon by a force of alternative characterto move said member from said carriage restraining position to saidcarriage releasing position, and release means for moving said memberfrom said carriage restraining position to said carriage releasingposition, said release means including a cam strip slidably mountedwithin a pair of slots provided in said housing in position to engagesaid member, said cam strip having cam means on one edge thereof wherebylongitudinal movement of said cam strip in one direction causes movementof said member from said carriage restraining position to said carriagereleasing position, said cam strip being reversible edge-to-edge withinsaid slots whereby said cam strip may engage and actuate said member ineither orientation of said member.

9. The combination as specified in claim 8 wherein said cam strip isalso reversible end-to-end within said slots whereby longitudinalmovement thereof in the direction opposite said one direction may efiectcarriage releasing movement of said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS162,272 Colby Apr. 20, 1875 366,159 Downing July 5, 1887 2,078,073 Geskeet al. Apr. 20, 1937 2,147,794 Leonard et al. Feb. 21, 1939 2,293,700Curtiss Aug. 25, 1942 2,394,646 Wagner Feb. 12, 1946 2,552,390 Bacon etal. May 8, 1951 2,803,480 Foster Aug. 20, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 437,256Great Britain Oct. 25, 1935

